We birded in seven areas of the refuge. Some of the birds we saw near the new Visitor’s Center were purple martin, osprey, and American goldfinch. A few of the birds we identified along the Raymond Pool Observation Trail and tower were Acadian flycatcher, willet, eastern towhee, great-crested flycatcher, tree swallow, white-eyed vireo, yellow warbler, brown thrasher, and common yellowthroat. At Raymond’s Pool, birds we identified included great blue heron, orchard oriole, marsh wren, northern flicker, bald eagle, black-necked stilt, willet, clapper rail, great egret, and short-billed dowitcher. In Shearness Pool, among other birds we identified mute swan, barn swallow, snowy egret, yellow-breasted chat, Forster’s tern, double-crested cormorant, black-bellied plover, and ring-billed gull. A few of the birds we identified in Pasture Point Pond were brown-headed cowbird, ovenbird, wood thrush, eastern bluebird, eastern kingbird, and green heron. Some of the birds along the Ailee House Trail were common yellowthroat, indigo bunting, eastern towhee, blue jay, white-eyed vireo, and great-crested flycatcher. The last are we went to was Bear Swamp Pool and some of the birds we identified were black-necked stilt, marsh wren, mute swan, snowy egret, semipalmated sandpiper, red-winged blackbird, and semipalmated sandpiper.
MY PHOTOS: red-winged blackbird, willet, osprey, great egret, great blue heron, mute swan, barn swallow, black-necked stilt
